国际英语新闻：Brown admits "painful defeat for Labor" in local elections

LONDON, June 5 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown admitted on Friday that Thursday's English local elections had been "a painful defeat for Labor."

    The ruling Labor Party lost three of its four county councils so far to the opposition Conservatives. Preliminary results indicated that the Conservative Party has successfully gained six councils while Labor lost three and became the worst hit party in the elections.

    Brown told a press conference on Friday afternoon: "I admit mistakes have been made and I accept full responsibility."

    He pledged that an independent audit panel will review all MPs' expenses in the last four years as part of the government's mission to clean up politics, work for economic recovery and political reform.

A group of journalists are stopped by a security staff member at the door of No. 10 Downing Street in London, Great Britain, June 5, 2009. Media gathered in front of No. 10 Downing Street to report the ongoing cabinet reshuffle started on Friday by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Meanwhile, as the cabinet reshuffle is unveiled in a bid to reassert his authority over the government, Brown believes that now he has "the right person with the right team" who are "committed to serving the nation first and foremost."

    When asked about whether he should step down as some MPs are urging, Brown insisted that he will "not waver or walk away and will get on with the job" when it's tough.

    "I would not be here if I did not think I was the best person for this job," he added, saying he has "a responsibility to lead this country through the worst of economic times."